Camp table



June 14-, 1932 w, SNYDER 1,862,911

CAMP TABLE Filed Dec. 5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W A. SNYDER (game 14, 3932.

CAMP TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec 3, 1930 471 5 7'0/8 WLQ 4/5 6/ WW Patented June 14, 1932 WILLIAM A. SNYDER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA CAMP TABLE Application filed December 6, 1930. Serial No. 499,746.

My invention relates to a folding table that is especially designed for household use or for the use of campers, automobile tourists or the like, and the principal object of my invention is, to provide a folding table which when open and set up for use provides a strong, substantial table of such size as to accommodate several persons and which table when folded and packed for storage or transportation occupies comparatively little space, thereby making it especially convenient to be carried in an automobile or other vehicle.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide improved means of hinging the folding legs to the undersides of the table top sections, further, to combine with the folding legs and table top sections a series of relatively simple, strong and durable folding braces, which are effective in providing a maximum degree of stability to the table when the same is open for use and further, to provide the top of the table with sliding members which when moved into position for use function as extension table tops to increase the effective area of the top of the table.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a folding table constructed in accordance with my invention and the same being shown open for use.

Fig. 2 is a view looking against the'underside of the open table.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view looking in the direction indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 1 and showing the inner ends of a pair of the leg braces.

Fig. 4: is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3'.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailsection of the improved hinge that is utilized between the table top sections and the folding legs.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a portion of the table top and showing the same equipped with an extension table top section, as contemplated by my invention.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a portion of the table top and showing the extension shifted into position to increase the area of the table top.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a practical embodiment of my invention, 10, 10 designate table top sections which may be formed of wood, veneer or metal, said sections being square or rectangular in form, of uniform dimensions and secured in any suitable man nor to the underfaces of these sections adjacent to their inner edges are transversely disposed cleats 11, preferably of wood.

Secured to the underfaces of these cleats adjacent to their ends, are metal plates 12,

the inner edges of which are connected by a hinge joint 13 and which latter is parallel and in the same plane with the joint between the inner edges of the sections 10 and the inner edges of the cleats 11.

The outer ends of the plates 12 are connected by hinge joints 1 1- to the upper inner edges of metal sockets 15 and positioned within said sockets are secured thereto in any suitable manner are the upper ends of folding legs 16, preferably of wood.

The members of each pair of legs are connected intermediate their ends by cross braces 17, preferably small metal rods.

The legs on one side of the transverse center are connected to the legs on the opposite side by braces 18, preferably metal straps, the inner ends of which are connected by pins or rivets 19 and in order to prevent these f0loling braces from moving downwardly pastcenter the inner end of one brace of each pair is extended a short distance so as to overlie the inner portion of the other brace and proj ecting inwardly from the end portion of the overlying end of the brace is a lip 20 that bears on top of the other brace when the legs are open and the braces are in service (see Figs. 3 and 4).

Secured in any suitable manner to the underfaces of table top sections 10 adjacent to and parallel with the ends thereof, are relatively short transversely disposed cleats 21 and secured to the underfaces thereof are the outer ends of small metal rods 22, which oecupy positions parallel with the side edges of the table top sections and the inner ends of these rods are connected to the underfaces of the cleats 11.

Pivotally secured in any suitable manner to the lower portions of the inner edges of the legs 16, are the lower ends of the side members of inverted U-shaped braces 23 and the upper horizontally disposed members of these braces are positioned between the rod 22 and the table top sections 10 and between the pairs of cleats 11 and 21.

When my improved folding table in unfolded and set up for use, the various parts thereof occupy the positions as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 with the legs 16 extending downwardly and outwardly from the cleats 11 and with the inverted U-shaped braces extending from the lower portions of said legs upwardly and outwardly with the upper ends of said braces positioned in the corners between the underfaces of the table top sections 10 and the inner edges of cleats 21.

Thus each table top section is supported by a pair of legs and a brace and the inner edges of the table top sections are securely con nected by the hinge plates 12. The legs are firmly held in open position by the folding braces 18 and thus the entire table structure when open for use, is very rigid and substantial and will conveniently accommodate a number of persons seated around the table.

To collapse the table and fold it for storage or transportation the inner ends of the folding braces are moved upward, thereby permitting the lower portions of the legs to be swung toward each other and after the upper ends of the inverted U-shaped braces 23 have been moved inwardly toward the cleats 11, the table top sections are swung on their hinges toward each other, as illustrated by dotted lines A in Fig. 1.

As a result of these operations, the legs 16, braces 23 and braces 18 are folded into a very small space between the table top sections 10 and the width of this space is practically equal to the thickness of the cleats 11 and 21.

It will be understood that when the legs 16 are folded together between the table top sections, said legs he immediately against each other and in the same planes with the cleats 11, to which the said legs are connected by the hinge oints 1 1.

To open the table for use, the outer lower ends of the table top sections are split apart and the legs 16 are split apart to permit the braces 28 to be swung outward until their upper portions bear against the cleats 21 and the folding braces 18 are now moved downward into horizontal alignment with each other and which action locks the legs 16 and braces 23 in the open positions and consequently providing a strong, rigid and sub stantial structure.

Extension table top members are formed by providing sheets or plates 25 of thin material of suifieient size to cover the outer portions of the table top sections 10 and the side edges of these sheets are bent downwardly and thence inwardly to form flanges 26 which underlie the side edges of the table top sections 10.

Secured by hinges such as 27 to the inner edges of the sliding members 25 are fiat sheets or plates 28 of thin material such as sheet metal or wood veneer. When the extension tops 25 are positioned on the table top sections 10 that completely cover said table top sections, as illustrated in Fig. 6 and the hinged sections 28 overlie the inner portions of the extensions 25. To increase the area of the table each sliding section 25 is drawn outwardly on the table top section to the position illustrated in Fig. 7 and the hinged section 28 is now swung upwardly, inwardly and downwardly so as to cover the inner portion of the table top section 10 and thus provide a flush surface for the table ineluding the sliding extensions.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a folding table that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended.

The table when open, is braced so as to provide a very rigid and substantial structure and the table when collapsed may be folded so as to occupy comparatively little space while in storage or while being carried upon a vehicle.

A feature of my invention is the triple hinges which provide a strong and substantial hinge connection between the cleats 11. at the inner ends of the table top section and between said cleats and the upper ends of the table legs.

lVhile I have described my improved table as being especially designed for the use of campers, automobile tourists and the like, it will be understood that the table may be constructed so as to be conveniently used as a folding table for general household use, for instance, as a tea or card table or if desired, the table in narrow form, may function as an ironing board.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved camp table may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding table, a pair of table top sections, cleats secured to the underfaces of said table top sections adjacent to their inner edges, a pair of legs for each table top section, hinges connecting said cleats to each other and connecting said cleats to the upper ends of said legs, retaining members secured to said cleats and extending outwardly beneath the table top section and spaced apart therefrom and folding braces pivotally connected to the lower portions of said legs and adapted to support the outer portions of said table top sections the intermediate portions of which folding braces are positioned between said table top sections and said retaining members.

2. In a folding table, a pair of table top sections, cleats secured to the underfaces of said table top sections adjacent to their inner edges, a pair of legs for each table top section, hinges connecting said cleats to each other and connecting said cleats to the upper ends of said legs, folding braces pivotally connected to the lower portions of said legs and adapted to support the outer portions of said table top sections, retaining members arranged beneath and spaced apart from said table top sections, the intermediate portions of which folding braces are positioned between said retaining members and table top sections and folding braces connecting the legs beneath one side of the table with the legs beneath the other side of said table.

3. In a folding table, a pair of table top .sections, cleats secured to the underfaces of said table top sections adjacent to the inner edges. a pair of le s for each table top section, hinges connecting said cleats to each other and connecting said cleats to the upper end of said legs, folding braces pivotally connected to the lower portions of said legs and adapted to support the outer portions of said table top sections, retaining members arranged beneath and spaced apart from said table top sections, the intermediate portions of which folding braces are positioned between said retaining member and table top sections, folding braces connecting the legs beneath one side of the table with the legs beneath the other side of said table and means for limiting the swinging movement of said folding braces in one direction.

4. In a folding table, a pair of table top sections. cleats secured to the undersides of said sections adjacent to their inner edges, retaining members arrangedbeneath and spaced apart from each table top section, a pair of legs arranged beneath each table top section, hinges connecting said cleats to each other and to the upper ends of said legs, inverted U-shaped braces having their lower ends pivotallv connected to the lower portions of said legs, the upper ends of which braces are arranged for sliding movement between said retaining members and the table top sections and means at the outer ends ofsaid retaining members for limiting the outward movement of the upper ends of said braces.

5. In a folding table, a pair of table top sections, cleats secured to the undersides of said sections adjacent to their inner edges, retaining members arranged beneath and spaced apart from each table top section, a pair of legs arranged beneath each table top section, hinges connecting said cleats to each other and to the upper ends of said legs, inverted U-shaped braces having their lower ends pivotally connected to the lower portions of said legs, the upper ends of which braces are arranged for sliding movement between said retaining members and the table top sections, means at the outer ends of said retaining members for limiting the outward movement of the upper ends of said braces and folding braces connecting the legs beneath one of the table top sections with the legs beneath the other table top section.

6. A folding table comprising a pair of table top sections, cleats secured to the under-faces of said table top sections adjacent to their inner edges, hinges connecting said cleats, a pair of legs arranged beneath each table top section, hinges connecting the up per ends of said legs to the respective cleats, cleats secured to the undersides of the table top sections adjacent to their outer ends, retaining rods arranged beneath each table top section with their ends secured to the inner and outer cleats, inverted U-shaped braces having their lower ends pivotally connected to the lower portions of said legs, the upper horizontal members of said braces being arranged between the retaining rods and the underfaces of the table top sections, folding braces connecting the intermediate portions of said legs and means for limiting the downward movement of said folding braces.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM A. SNYDER. 

